Hunting at *High T Altitudes 



creased. We were without overcoats, and our 

 buckskin clothing had already become wet from the 

 melting snow. We traveled for an hour and a 

 half after dark, and still saw no camp-fire, and our 

 occasional stops to see if signal guns might be 

 heard were fruitless. We had just about deter- 

 mined to seek some sheltered place where we might 

 build a fire and spend the night as best we could, 

 when we heard from behind us three distinct dis- 

 charges of firearms. The signals were answered 

 and camp was finally reached by riding about two 

 miles back. We had passed it within three-quarters 

 of a mile, but since it was behind an intervening 

 hill, we had failed to hear the signal guns. Around 

 a cheerful camp-fire we were soon warm and dry, 

 but it did not require a hot supper to make us 

 happy at having reached a haven where we were 

 sheltered from storms of winter, and having 

 avoided a night of great discomfort exposed to the 

 blizzard then raging. How comfortable and luxu- 

 rious that tent appeared, with the storm howling 

 without! No wonder the tired sportsmen slept 

 without dreams. 



The following morning was bright and pleasant 

 and the sun was warm and melted the snow. We 

 spent the loth, i ith and I2th of November recon- 

 noitering the mountains, but found the prospect for 



104 



